Aphthona

Prathapan, K. D. & Konstantinov, A. S., 2011, A New Species-Group inAphthonaChevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with a Description of a New Species from Southern India, The Coleopterists Bulletin 65 (4), pp. 329-334 : 329-334

KEY TO THE SPECIES- GROUPS OF APHTHONA

1. Head and pronotum reddish brown, elytron blue. Antennomere 11 wide apically, nearly triangular, much wider than antennomere 7. Metatibia (in lateral view) swollen at apical 1/3 ............................................ laeta species-group

1′. Head, pronotum, and elytron yellowish, blue, bronze, or black, always similar in color. Antennomere 11 nearly as narrow apically as antennomere 7, nearly cylindrical. Metatibia (in lateral view) not swollen at apical 1/3....2

2. Pronotum and elytron yellow or light brown without metallic luster, elytral suture usually darker than elytron........................................3

2′. Pronotum and elytron metallic blue, green, or black with or without metallic luster...........7

3. Body more than 3.0 mm long. Frontal ridge wide. Median lobe of aedeagus moderately straight in lateral view, apex usually flat with impression in middle. Vaginal palpus usually robust. Apical abdominal tergite always without basal appendages...................................... ............................. cyparissiae species-group

3′. Body less than 2.5 mm long. Frontal ridge narrow. Median lobe of aedeagus moderately convex in lateral view, apex usually triangular, acute. Vaginal palpus usually slender. Apical abdominal tergite sometimes with basal appendages........................................................4

4. Elytral punctures forming nearly regular striae .......................... bombayensis species-group

4′. Elytral punctures confused, not forming nearly regular striae.................................................. 5

5. Median lobe of aedeagus with high longitudinal ridge in middle and knob at apex. Pronotum with lateral side usually nearly straight, lateral margins mostly narrowly explanate. Frontal ridge moderately wide (compared to frontal ridge of species of hammarstroemi species-group, but narrower than in cyparissiae species-group). Anterofrontal ridge usually high in middle and comparatively high laterally ...................... .............................. kanaraensis species-group

5′. Median lobe of aedeagus without longitudinal ridge in middle and knob at apex. Pronotum with lateral side usually convex, lateral margins mostly widely explanate. Frontal ridge moderately narrow. Anterofrontal ridge usually moderately high in middle and low laterally........6

6. Median lobe of aedeagus apically with 2 denticles bent ventrally. Vaginal palpus robust, anterior and posterior sclerotization long, each longer than middle membranous part of palpus. Tignum with solid plate posteriorly. Antennomere 2 longer than 3......................... ...................................... pallida species-group

6′. Median lobe of aedeagus apically without 2 denticles. Vaginal palpus slender, anterior and posterior sclerotization usually short, each not longer than middle membranous part of palpus. Tignum with 2 branches posteriorly. Antennomere 2 usually shorter than 3 ............ ...................................... placida species-group

7. Ventral side of median lobe of aedeagus with 2 impressions situated laterally to middle ridge, without membranous window. Middle ridge narrow, in most species present only apically. Posterior part of tignum with 2 branches. Dorsal part of body in most species metallic blue or green, or with strong coppery or brassy luster. Pronotum with much coarser punctation basally than apically........................................8

7′. Ventral part of median lobe of aedeagus without 2 impressions and middle ridge, usually with membranous window. Middle ridge present in some species, but only basally or in middle of median lobe. Posterior part of tignum in most species with single branch. Dorsal part of body usually black, sometimes black with light metallic luster. Pronotum with punctation basally nearly as coarse as apically..........................................................9

8. Median lobe of aedeagus thick basally and narrow apically, sometimes sinuous in lateral view. Tignum moderately short, with posterior branches wide apically ..................................... ........................................ crypta species-group

8′. Median lobe of aedeagus almost as thick basally as apically, either curved or nearly straight but not sinuous in lateral view. Tignum moderately long, with posterior branches narrow to moderately narrow apically ................. ..................... hammarstroemi species-group

9. Median lobe of aedeagus spoon-like, with narrow basal and broad apical parts. Tignum with narrow anterior part. Vaginal palpus with long and curved apical sclerotization............. ................................... gracilis species-group

9′. Median lobe of aedeagus not spoon-like, with apical and basal parts of subequal width. Tignum with wide anterior part. Vaginal palpus with short and straight apical sclerotization..................... depressa species-group